Marriage Of Convenience: A BWWM Billionaire Love Story by Cher Etan, BWWM Club

said taking
advantage of her inability to answer. Leila just cast her a look,
rolled her eyes and continued brushing. It was almost eleven and she
didn’t know if her mother wanted to attend mass or not. She
spit out the toothpaste and turned to Sheila.
    “ What’s
mama saying? Is she strong enough for mass?”
    Sheila shrugged, “I
don’t know about strong enough but I left her changing.”
    Leila gasped and blew
past Sheila, going to check on her mother.
    “ Ma?”
she called.
    “ Yes?”
her mother replied weakly from the living room. Leila headed in that
direction and found her mother sipping something hot while resting on
the couch.
    “ Are
we going to church?” she asked.
    “ Absolutely,”
her mother said. She was dressed in her Sunday best, and her hat was
perched on the table, awaiting transfer to her neatly coiffed head.
    “ I’ll
just get changed then,” she said and backtracked to her room
where Sheila was still sitting on the bed.
    “ It's
an affirmative on the church attendance,” she told her.
    “ Cool,”
Sheila said and crossed over to her closet. “I’ll have to
borrow some clothes. I don’t have anything suitable to wear.”
    “ Uh
huh,” Leila said knowing full well it was just an excuse to
borrow her clothes. Sheila liked to do that.
    “ Hands
off the blue Balenciaga, it's rented,” she said.
    “ So
why you still have it?” Sheila wanted to know.
    Leila shrugged
sheepishly, “I’m still deciding if imma buy it or not.”
    “ I
say buy it,” Sheila suggested.
    “ Yah
thanks. Move bitch, you’re not the only one who needs to get
ready,” she said pushing Sheila aside. They got dressed for
mass with Raychelle chivying them to hurry up. The church was
fortunately not far and they were just in time for service.
    The sermon of the day
was about recognizing the spirit of the lord in others and they
listened with attention as the priest intoned about the possibility
of finding God in the most unlikely places.
    After mass was over,
they debated the merits of going out for lunch versus going home to
cook. Hunger won out and they decided to go to a local mom and pop
place that served a delicious after mass pot roast. They were joined
by Sheila’s mother and brother and after lunch, Sheila went
home with her family while Leila and Raychelle made their slow
companionable way home. They climbed the stairs to their apartment
and were surprised to find Jonathon lounging outside the door. Leila
stopped short a few feet before the door.
    “ What
are you doing here?” she asked.
    “ Waiting
for you,” he replied.
    “ Well
obviously,” her mother said walking forward to open the door.
She seemed unperturbed by the continued appearance of Jonathon in
their lives. “Well, come in then,” she said.
    Jonathon took her up on
her invitation and Leila followed, eyes narrowed and shoulders tense.
    They all sat down in
the living room and Leila stared expectantly at Jonathon who leaned
forward and placed a paper on the table. Leila stared at it as if it
was a time bomb and might go off, and then she leaned forward to pick
it up. It was her mother’s hospital bill, paid in full…
    Leila looked at her
mother. There was no way she was having this discussion with her
present.
    “ Ma.
Jonathon and I need to talk. Would you mind excusing us?” she
asked. Raychelle’s eyebrow touched her hairline but all she
said was, “I need to rest anyway.” She struggled up from
her chair. Jonathon hastened forward to help her and went so far as
to escort her to the door of her room. She thanked him politely and
walked into her room as he closed her door behind her.
    He walked slowly back
to the living room where Leila was standing where they left her, the
bill clutched in her hand.
    She brandished it at
him, “Okay then. How much is this going to cost me?”

Chapter 5
    Jonathon laughed, “I
knew you were a quick one the moment I met you.”
    Leila just continued to
glare.
    “ Shall
we sit?” Jonathon